Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

OPTIMAL USE OF SELECTED WASTE MATERIALS IN BUILDINGS

Gihan Garas*1, Emad Bakhoum1 and Mostafa Allam1

Abstract

This paper analyses the optimal use of some agro and industrial wastes in the building industry. The Life Cycle assessment (LCA) concept is used as a tool to evaluate three case studies in which agro and industrial wastes were considered as sustainable solutions in green buildings in order to develop eco-friendly and more resource-efficient models of construction. The study concluded that waste utilized for developing eco-friendly building materials can significantly reduce the negative environmental impact of the construction industry while enhancing sustainability. Although the effect of utilizing waste is differing for each case study based on several parameters such as boundary conditions and aims, however, it is clear that incorporating a whole eco-friendly building system would be of higher sustainable effect. The findings of this research provided a deeper understanding on the effect of developing green building materials data base that would help in implementing new building systems in the Egyptian construction industry.